My best friend and I
Ran barefoot through the garden
Stirring the petals
Her hair tied back in two braids
Her skirt trailed out behind her
We sat by the stream
With our feet in the water
Talking and laughing
Until a pink rose I plucked
And wove it into her dark braids

LOVE
God is always love
Forever seek the kingdom;
Praise the creator
Keep giving what you can give
Please endure until the end
ANGELS
Beautiful Heavens
Protecting the meek ones earth
Watching over us
Helping us to cope with life
Comforted with hope and trust
MUSIC
When you find rhythm
You find your hearts inner core
Celebrate the times
Make them better than before
Reminisce and dance all night

It is a new day
Something wonderful happened
You are now at peace
Like a phoenix rising up
From the ashes you prevail
We shall not mourn you
For you are not gone at all
We may not see you
Your presence lives on in us
Enduring the test of time
Radiant light shines
Upon us all forever
Glorious rays gleam
Emitting from your spirit
Keeping your memory strong
The lives you have touched
Will never forget you now
Though we may shed tears
These are tears of happiness
Your spirit forever reigns
In the days to come
When we are all together
Celebrating life
Your spirit will consume us
Your peace will be our strength
Joy and happiness
Will be felt every moment
You gave us reason
To have faith in the future
Your legacy will live on…………..

Rejoicing in life
soul’s jubilation singing
raising of voices
Praises of joy unto Him
uplifting mortal spirit
Comments: The Japanese tanka dating back to the 5th Century has a format of
five lines: the first has five syllables. The second has seven syllables. The third
has five syllables. The forth and fifth lines have seven syllables each. The
pattern is 5/7/5/7/7 for a total of thirty-one syllables. This one is about rejoicing.

Petals in the wind
Wish to be with you today
Dancing in the sky
It’s like raining of magic
Feels my spirit soar up high
On a starry night
Surrendering our lost souls
Cleanse by your beauty
My contented heart rejoiced
Color of happiness you bring
Life is really good
Floating to the world of dreams
Take us anywhere
Balancing our own with faith
And let God works in ourselves
January 25, 2013

Sunshine Dreams
In my mind and heart
drifting golden dreams of hope
shining with splendor
a sunshine dream to hold on
making this time most blessed
the feelings inside
show a brighter tomorrow
finding inner peace
teaching the heart to live , love
where sunshine is renewed
10.20.2012
Contest -Tanka Crazy-Sunshine Nov.10

Red kite loses flight
Bump bump bumping through the grass
She runs to recast
Kite snags on a jagged rock
Rips a hole inside girl’s heart
3/30/12 - Revised 4/2/12
for "Let's Go Fly a Kite" contest
A big thanks to Andrea for her ideas and suggestions over the past year that have made my writing better :)

The silver moon shines
Shimmering over the sea
Lighting up shadows
Stirring right inside of me
Watching waves drift on the shore
The night sky dances
With the gentle silver face
Holding hands with stars
This scene, my eyes have embraced
Watching life drift in the night
For contest : moonlight dream
By Emma Buckeridge
Tanka form

Sealed in walls of ice
My heart locked; frozen frail,
Ragged shardsduk-taped
After a swift fall from grace
Grim view of my shackled fate
Opening my mind
In order to see clearly
Amending time lost
Moving forward yet refrained
Seeking a promising path
Lily's, daisies, rose's,
Stoping to sniff as they bloom
Staring at the stars
Burning like a tigers eyes
Meek child I am no longer
Reach for heaven
To chase inner most desires
Stroking fire within
Aspiring to heights untold
Letting inner light shine o
(I connected this to "the great flower of life" in a perspective of personal growth from a troubled child to a positive and driven young adult inspired toward achieving greater things)

Walking down the aisle
While sweet music softly plays
Feels like on the clouds
With my pure white wedding gown
And my hands with fresh bouquet
We take solemn vow
On sunny or stormy days
Whatever happens
Together without a fear
We embrace our future aims
In a new sunrise
We lovingly look forward
Sprinkled with blessings
We’ll bind together with love
Love- forever from above
October 8,2012
3rd Place Winner
Contest: Tanka-Love and Marriage
Judged: 10/20/2012
Poet Sponsor: SandyIvy Davis

THREE EASY PIECES
three easy pieces
the kind of tunes children like
are so out of place
in this electronic world
grandma moses comes to mind
the colors simple
country places brought to life
you identify
alive again as a child
love comfort security
in this complex world
simple things are still the best
three easy pieces
love comfort security
old grandma knew how to live

sun kisses the dew
with feathered hues of sequins
the whole world glitters
with extravagance of light
in the red bannered sunrise
no trumpets are heard
for the wide lift of pink sky
as the crimson sun
greets the earth without fanfare
but wraps the soul in splendor
Leonora Galinta's Contest: Tanka Crazy/Sunshine

Anticipating
A special Celebration
Going to Tulsa
Celebrate with twin sister
Our birthday celebration.
Trying out another new style from our friend Joseph Spence.
In celebration of my 50th birthday. August 31-2007. I Will be out of
town for a few days. Going to Oklahoma.

Clouds dance in the sky
As the golden rays appear
Your lights are glimmer
For such beauty that you bring
I wonder where you are from
as you bring the love,
the sorrow has melt away,
And it warms my heart.
Oh sunshine spread your magic
the laughter of dazzling light.
Date : October 22, 2012
Entree : Tanka Crazy - Sunshine (Leonora Galinta)

Scent of the pine boughs
stir thoughts of his first Christmas…
Today, his large hand
fondles the tiny snowman
that says “Welcome Home, Grandson”
Inside one snowglobe
a replica of full house
Cars fill the driveway…
The wind-up music box plays
my wish of “Joy to the World”
Footsteps long silenced…
Cookie crumbs litter the rug
a new puppy naps…
Needles are dropping, and lone
shiny globe says “Contentment”

< iron propeller
sitting entrance to driveway
slowly turning blades
like the hands of time on clock
longing for extra seconds
Hummingbirds buzzing
red gold blue and green headed
just waiting for turns
to capture it's own bountys
succulant sugar water
Written By
Katherine Stella 9/13/2011
Entry For Francine Roberts
The View-A Tanka Contest
G.L. All

Like a Hungry Bear
I approach the Honey Jar
Slurping the Sweetness
Pearls of sticky glue dripping
Fast I Lick my lustful lips
Now the jar's empty
I Scoop the Delicious Dew
My restless fingers
Rushing to work honestly
Leaving not a drop to wipe
My taste buds do speak
Savor the lingering last
Reaching the zenith
Grateful to flowers and bees
My blissful heart blesses them

Tomorrow the things
we will remember will be:
flowers, kisses and bells
that brought happiness to two,
who made strong wows of faithfulness!
We must fervently
defend what we believe in,
trust is one of them...
devotion is another;
can these feelings be promises?
That jazz wedding song
we have picked out of thousands,
can do great wonders;
Lisa will sing it...wishing
herself flowers, kisses and bells!

(This is a Tanka: Japanese poem of five lines, the first and third composed of five
syllables and the others seven. In Japanese, tanka is often written in one straight line,
but in English and other languages, we usually divide the lines into the five syllabic
units: 5-7-5-7-7.)
Splashing Dog
by Amy Swanson
Great drops of water
fly vigorously from him!
Black hair glistening
he gallops through the river,
stops only to shake himself!

Looking for beauty
in everyday moments.
Searching with my soul
for lyrics sung in kitchens.
Joy felt in simplicity.
Looking for some gentleness.
Laughter floating in the breeze.
Friends and strangers at my door.
Come to feast on life.
By Deb Wilson
for contest"A Mesh of Forms"
sponsored by Russell Sivey

Water wheel running
cascading over slate rocks
the water pours fast
down the mini waterfall
into the large pond below.
Gold fish are thriving
nine fishes swim in this pond
from the gazebo
watching them dart in the pond
chasing each other around.
Raspberry plants grow
along with my small garden
the potted flowers
sit high on my five foot deck
where they survey my back yard.
center>
Phyllis Babcock
Sept 14 2011

The cute cheeky boy
Has a hot magnetic smile
Yet he answers back rudely
Cute as an apple
His face displays innocence
His talks, childish and honest
Make me feel at ease
He insists for attention
And makes me see Paradise
With brown squirrel eyes
As sharp as the razor's blade
He gives us reasons to live

Happy Santa Day
Here’s my short list of desires
I wish complete peace
My wish came true this very morn
My tree held exquisite cross
My second wish now
No more greed upon the earth
At the stroke of noon
Golden abyss circled world.
Tree had a smiley face bulb.
As this day ended
My third wish for no hunger
Became abundant
A note found, said "down-to-earth".
My tree now bore so much fruit.
written by
Cecil Hickman

Under the moon's light
Your beautiful crimson hair
Tonight looks so bright
Brighter than anyone else
You shine brighter than the sun.
Huge big blue night sky
I follow you until death
Endless is my quest
The moon is hidden by clouds
Far away is the moonlight.

Effervescent dreams
Flow down upon mother’s plate
Chilled by destined fall
A time always remembered
Appearing third time of year
Season of life fades
Human apertures grow weak
Though, knowledge is strong
Love holds different stages
Bonding affections with key
Combined all blessings
Unfold into beauty bold
Each respect enriched
Of their returning faction
Crossing over great divide
To rapture rebirth
Forming times readmission
Natural recourse
Within nature is beauty
Returning humanity

once they were all mine
beauty, youth and attitude
unconquerable
selfishness and ego reigns
bringing hollow victory
changes come with time
gradually and certain
self retreats a bit
bringing love to the forefront
happiness is love’s reward
By: Joyce Johnson
7/6/11
for Linda Marie's contest "Bag of Tricks" Won a third in contest

Adrift in slumber
My eyes see floating presents
Fall from the heavens
Colorful array around
As people collect them all
Written by
Cecil Hickman
Sponsor Michael J. Falotico
Contest Name "Tanka me a Dream"

Who?
Dennis is my love
Complex, direct, unrefined
Never been in love
Can I move him, make him mine
Taking his heart in my hands
What?
It is a challenge
Teaching him all about love
He is resisting
Hiding from love, trying hard
Not to fall in love with me
When?
We met in July
Six short months together
Love makes time fly by
He does not really know it
But his eyes, they do show it
Where?
Searching on yahoo
Personal advertisements
Looking for a friend
That is right where I came in
To be his friend and then more
Why?
I looked in his eyes
And I saw the reflection
Myself looking back
I wanted him to be mine
Just mine for all time, all mine
How?
Plans made, my cards played
Arranging to meet him soon
Electricity
Sparks flew between him and me
The rest will be our history